Pneumatic sump pump with automatic operating control



June 21, 1966 K. A. MCHENRY PNEUMATIC SUMP PUMP WITH AUTOMATIC OPERATING CONTROL Filed March 1, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I ll ll lll K- A. M HENRY June 21, 1966 PNEUMATIC SUMP PUMP WITH AUTOMATIC OPERATING CONTROL Filed March 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v/ i), RM H 74 u W W m w n J a w m F V u {pa m 1 F 5% J @MMW June 21, 1966 K. A. M HENRY 3,256,822

PNEUMATIC SUMP PUMP WITH AUTOMATIC OPERATING CONTROL Filed March 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 J0 J6 40 W 57 47 ff 7/ 60 United States Patent PNEUMATIC SUMP PUMP WITH AUTOMATIC OPERATING CONTROL Kenneth Alfred McI-Ienry, Clinton, N.Y., assignor to Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,100 11 Claims. (Cl. 103-33) This invention relates to pneumatic sump pumps. It is particularly concerned with novel and improved control means for automatically starting and stopping the operation of the pump.

A general object of the invention i to provide an improved sump pump which uses a minimum amount of pressure air in its operation; which operates automatically without the needed continuous attention of a workman; and which can be used in a wide variety of situations, such as for draining various sumps, gravel and oil refinery pits, mines, and others.

It conserves pressure air in that its air is used only in driving its motor and in controlling the automatic starting and stopping thereof; and in that its operation is not continuous. It operates only when the water in a sump has risen from a specific low level to a specific high level; and it continues to operate only until the water has receded to the specific low level. Thus, it not only conserves air, but avoids unnecessary operation and con-sequent wear of its parts.

The water drained from a sump is discharged through a scroll. This Water is often dirty and gritty, but the pump is so constructed that this gritty water does not pass through any valves or contact any of the bearings of the pump; accordingly, wear upon the vital parts of the pump is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a pneumatic sump pump a pneumatically operable control device which functions automatically to cause operation of the pump when the sump water has risen to a predetermined high level; and which functions automatically to stop operation of the pump when the sump water has receded to a predetermined low level.

In accordance with the invention there is provided in a sump pump an air driven pump, passage means for communicating operating air to the pump, valve mean movable in one direction to close the passage means and movable in the opposite direction to open the passage means, mean for developing a back pressure of fluid that is actuable on the valve means to move it in one of said directions when Water in the sump has reached a certain level, and other means continuously acting on the valve means for returning the latter in the opposite direction when the water in the sump has receded to a certain other level.

The invention further lies in the particular construction and arrangement of it component parts; and it also lies in their cooperative association with one another to effect the beneficial results intended herein.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows taken with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description; they are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

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FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sump pump embodying the invention, portions of the housing having been cut away to show the association of a control hose with certain air flow passages;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail of the toggle actuating slide member;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged sectional view of the control valve unit; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the control valve unit in operated condition.

In the drawing is disclosed a sump pump, generally designated 10. It includes an air driven motor unit 11 which drives a pump or impeller 12. Flow of operating air to the motor is controlled automatically by a control valve unit 13.

The motor unit 11 houses a motor of a conventional type. The motor includes (FIG. 3) the usual rotor 14 having shaft ends 15 and 16 respectively supported in bearing members 17 and 18, and having air driven slidable vanes 19. The latter sweep the wall of a surrounding liner 21 as the rotor rotates. A chamber 22 in which the rotor rotates is supplied with operating air from a suitable passage 23 in the liner. The lower shaft 16 of the rotor defines an extended drive shaft upon which the impeller 12 is mounted fast, as by means of a threaded connection 24. The motor is encased in an intermediate section 25 of the general housing 26.

The impeller 12 rotates in a bottom end section 27 of the housing, which section is bolted fast a at 28 to a flanged bottom 29 of the motor housing section 25. The impeller housing section 27 has an annular perforated bottom wall 31 provided with an annular depending foot flange 32. The latter is intended to rest upon the bottom of a sump S. It is preferred that it rest in the sump in level condition above the muck upon a rigid fiat support, such as a board 33. An annular opening 34 around the side wall of the impellers casing 27 is covered over by a screen 35. Sump water flowing through the screen into the impeller chamber 36 is pumped by the rotating impeller through a scroll formation 37 to a connected discharge conduit, not shown. An annular plate 30 and an O-ring 40 seal the drive shaft bearing fluid tight from the impeller chamber 36.

So as to minimize air consumption as well as undesirable wear of the motor, impeller, and associated parts when the pump is in use, it is desired that the motor start to operate only when the water in the sump has risen to a predetermined high level, indicated in FIG. 1 by the line H; and that it continue operating only until the water has dropped to a predetermined low level, indicated by the line L. It is also desired that this starting and stopping of the motor be controlled automatically, so that continuous attention to the operation of the device by a workman will not be required. The air control valve unit 13 functions to fulfill these objectives.

The air control valve unit 13 (FIGS. 19) is a separable unit. It has a housing or casting 38 which is detachably bolted, as at 39, atop the motor housing section 25. It

nected at its inlet end by means of a supply hose line 42 to a source of pressure air. The valve unit 13 further includes an outlet passage 43 which communicates through a partition end wall 44 with the motor air intake passage 23. An air filter 45 is fitted in the inlet end of the air passage 41 to filter out undesirable foreign particles. A horizontal bore 46 (FIG. 8) formed in an internal Wall portion 47 of the casting 38 opens at one end 48 into the lower portion of the intake passage 41; and it opens at its opposite end into an enlarged annular chamber 49. The latter opens by means of an enlarged opening 51 through the side wall of the casting 38; This opening 51 is sealed fluid-tight by a crown cover 52 which is bolted by screws 53 (FIG. 1) to the casting.

Slidably fitted in the bore 46 is a sleeve 55 (FIG. 8). O-rings 60 seal the sleeve fluid tight relative to the bore 46. An end 56 of the sleeve opens into the intake passage 41. The opposite end of the sleeve is closed over by a wall 57 having an axially located vent or relief port 58. A pilot valve member defined by an enlarged cylindrical body 59 having an axially projecting reduced pilot end 61 is slidably arranged in an axial extension 62 of the sleeve in such manner that the pilot end 61 normally seals the relief port 58. The sleeve 55- is restrained against endwise movement relative to the bore 46 by means of cooperating shoulders at 63 of the bore 46 and of the sleeve; and by means of a retainer ring 65. The latter is bolted to the wall portion 47 and overhangs a shoulder 68 of the sleeve. The sleeve 55 has a plurality of radial ports 69 which communicate the interior of the sleeve with a surrounding annular channel 71. The latter connects with the outlet passage 43-.

A master slide valve defined by a cylindrical cupform body 73 is slidable in the sleeve member relative to the radial ports 69. This valve controls communication of the inlet passage 41 through the open end 56 of the sleeve 55 and the ports 69 with the outlet passage 43. The master valve has a normal position, as in FIGS. 3 and 8, wherein a reduced stem portion 74 thereof abuts against an inner face of the casting 38, and wherein the body 73 of the valve seals over the radial ports 69. Seated at one end in the cup or pocket 75 of the master valve and limiting at the other against the end wall 57 of the sleeve, is a compression return spring 76. The latter constantly urges the master valve to its normally closed position, as in FIGS. 3 and 8. This spring load of itself is insufficient to overcome the pressure of the air in the intake passage 41, which air is continually acting in an opposite direction upon the outer wall area 77 of the master valve. But, pressure air admitted from the intake passage 41 through the orifices at 78 of the stem portion 74 to the interior pocket 75 of the master valve opposes the counter-pressure of air acting on the outer wall area 77, thus enabling the force of the return spring 76 to hold the master valve in its normally closed position. But, it can be seen that if the pilot valve 59 is unseated, as in FIG. 9, pressure air trapped in the pocket 75 of the master valve will be vented through the port 58 to the enlarged chamber 49, and then through associated ports, not shown, to atmosphere. This venting of the pocket 75 relaxes the air pressure acting over the inside area of the master valve; whereupon the latter action, the master valve will be forced by the greater pressure of air in the intake passage 41 to move against the load of the return spring 76 so as to uncover the radial ports 69, and thereby allow operating air to flow from the actuating slide member 82 (FIGS. 6-8) An annular cupplate spring retainer 86 sleeving member 82 is sandwiched fast between a snap ring 87 and a short retainer sleeve 85 fitted on the slide member 82. The snap ring 87 is seated in a peripheral groove of the slide member. The latter member is provided about its periphery with a channel 88 adjacent the inner end of the retainer sleeve 85. This channel is square in cross section. Seated in the channel is a pair of opposed separated arcuate toggle retainer members 89 (FIGS. 5, 8). These are square in cross section. The toggle retainers 89 project in part radially from the channel. A gartervspring 91 seated in peripheral grooves of the toggle retainers 89 holds the latter yieldably seated in the channel 88. By means of this arrangement the toggle retainers 89 have limited relative radial movement, but are restrained against axial movement relative to one another.

The toggle retainers 89 cooperate with a pair of opposed toggle pins 92 to eifect an axial sudden movement of the pilot valve 59 relative to the relief port 58. Each toggle pin extends with a slide fit through a separate one of a pair of diametrically opposed guide slots 93 formed longitudinally of the extension member 62. A

intake passage 41 through channel 71 and the outlet passage 43 to the motor.

Means is provided for causing the pilot valve 59 to be automatically moved at predetermined times to open and closed condition relative to the relief port 58. To this end, the reduced elongated axial extension 62 of sleeve 55 has an axial bore 81 in which the pilot valve is axially slidable. Slidably sleeving the extension 62 is a toggle rounded inner end of each pin is seated for pivotal movement in a round bottom V-groove 94 formed about the body of the pilot valve. The outer portion of each pin extends freely through one of a pair of diametrically opposed clearance holes 95 formed in the slide member, and has a rounded end seated for pivotal movement in a round bottomed V-pocket 96 formed in the underside of the middle of the associated toggle retainer 89.

A compression return spring 97 loaded between the cupplate 86 and an internal partition wall 98 of the casting 38 normally holds the slide member 82 displaced to the left (FIGS. 3 and 8) relative to the extension 62. The slide member is continuously held by this spring in abutment with an annular cup-plate member 99 of a diaphragm unit 101. In this position of the slide member at the left, the toggle pins 92 are inclined relative to vertical so that the pilot valve 59 is held at the right end of the extension 62 with its pilot end 61 closing the relief port 58. A compression spring aids in holding the pilot valve seated over the relief port.

The diaphragm unit 101 is axially slidable in an outer enlarged portion of chamber 49. It functions, when moved to the right toward the sleeve extension 62, to force the slide member 82 against the resistance of its spring 97 to cause the toggle pins to reverse their normal position and suddenly shift the pilot valve 59 in the opposite direction away from the relief port 58 to Open position, as appears in FIG. '9. When the pilot valve is thus shifted or snapped, pressure air trapped in the pocket 75 of the master valve 73 escapes through the relief port 58, flows through the longitudinal slots 93 and ports not shown in the extension 62, and then through a plurality of slots at the right end of the slide member 82 into the chamber 49 from where it then escapes to atmosphere through vents, not shown. A cross pin 103 extending diametrically through the left end of the sleeve extension 62 (FIGS. 4, 8, 9) cooperates with an adjustable screw 104 projecting axially from the left end of the pilot valve to limit the extent to which the pilot valve may be carried to the left away from the relief port 58. This cross pin 103 extends at its ends into a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 84 of the slide member. The ends of the pin cooperate with the ends of the slots 84 to limit axial movement of the slide member to the left as in FIG. 8; and the casting shoulder 68 cooperates with the right end of the slide member to limit movement of the latter to the right, as in FIG. 9. The pin 103 is blocked against endwise escape by the sleeve 85. As the toggle pins 92 shift over center from one position (FIG. 8) to the other (FIG. 9) the garter spring 91 yields radially to allow the toggle pins to rise to their vertical center positions before they snap over to their reverse positions under the radially acting force of the garter spring.

The diaphragm unit 101 includes an outer disc plate 105 having a diameter equal to that of the cup-plate 99. Sandwiched fast between the cup plate and the disc plate is an annular diaphragm element 106 formed of flexible resilient material. It has an annular U-form peripheral portion, the inner arm 107 of which is adapted to overlie an annular skirt 108 of the cup-plate 99. The outer arm 109 of the U-form portion bears against the surrounding annular wall of chamber 49. This outer arm terminates at its free end in an annular bead 54 which is seated on an annular recessed shoulder defining the edge of the housing opening 51. This bead is anchored fast on this shoulder by means of an overlying lip portion 50 of the crown cover 52, whereby the diaphragm element 106 defines a closure sealing off the outer end of chamber 49. The diaphragm unit has limited axial slidable' movement in this chamber relative to the sleeve extension 62.

The crown cover 52 defines a pressure chamber 112 at the left of the diaphragm unit (FIGS. 2, 3, 8, 9). Connected by means of a restricted orifice 113 with this chamber 112 is a small chamber 114 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The latter chamber is also connected by means of a threaded outlet 115 with the upper end of a control hose 117. The latter extends downwardly alongside of the general housing 26 to a point short of the bottom end of the impeller housing section 27. This hose is anchored near its lower end fast to the housing by means of a clamp 118, whereby the level of an open bottom end 120 of the control hose has a fixed position relative to the housing. The level of the bottom end of the control hose may be adjusted relative to the housing by loosening the clamp screw 121, raising or lowering the control hose as desired, and then retightening the screw to fix the adjusted level of the control hose relative to the housing. Here, the control hose has an inner diameter of approximately three-eighths of an inch. A restricted orifice 119 disposed opposite the opening 115 communicates the small chamber 114 with the intake passage 41. This orifice allows a thin stream of pressure air to be continuously metered from passage 41 into chamber 114. Live air entering chamber 114 enters the control hose 117, and also passes through orifice 113 to fill the pressure chamber 112 for a purpose to be later described herein.

The operation of the sump pump described above is as follows:

It is caused to stand level in vertical position on the bottom of a sump S above the muck, with its foot flange 32 resting upon a flat support, such as the board 33. The pressure air supply to the intake passage 41 is made continuous. This air is normally prevented from operating the motor 14 because of the normally closed master valve 73. The sump pump is designed to start operation automatically when the sump water rises to a predetermined high level indicated by the line H; and to continue operating until the sump water has dropped to a predetermined low level, indicated by the line L. In the latter case, flow of operating air to the motor will be automatically cut off, causing the motor to stop.

Pressure air from the intake passage 41 is metered continuously in a thin stream through the restricted orifice 119 into chamber 114. Here, it flows into chamber 114 at the rate of approximately one cubic foot per minute (1 c.f.m.). The air flows from chamber 114 into the control hose 117, and it also flows from chamber 114 through the restricted orifice 113 into the pressure chamber 112. The purpose of this thin stream of air entering chamber 114 is to cause, depending on the level of the water in the sump, an operating pressure to develop through the orifice 113 in the pressure chamber 112 sufficient to move the diaphragm unit 101 against the resistance of the return spring 97 plus the differential force required to shift the toggle pins 92. Development of this operating pressure is dependent upon the level of the water in the sump relative to the open bottom end of the control hose 1 17. When the level of the sump water is below the open end 120 of control hose 117, the air in chamber 114 escapes freely from the control hose and, therefore, there is no build-up of pressure in the pressure chamber 112. But as the sump water level rises above the open end 120, the air escaping through control hose 117 forces the water out of the hose. In order to keep the water out of the control hose, the air pressure in the latter and therefore in chambers 114 and 112 has to be equal to the pressure exerted by the head of the water above the open end 120 of hose 117. Accordingly, the pressure in chamber 112 will always be equal to the head of the water above point 120, and is used as a control pressure in effecting movement of the diaphragm unit 101 and consequent shifting of the pilot valve. The pressure in chamber 112 builds-up accordingly as the water level rises above the open end 120 toward the high level mark H. Consequent upon the pressure build-up that develops in chamber 112 when the sump water level reaches the level H, the slide member 82 is forced by means of the diaphragm unit 101 to the right, causing the toggle pins to be snapped over center to their reverse condition and thereby shift the pilot valve 59 to the left to open condition, as in FIG. 9. In response to the latter action, the master valve 73 is forced, in the manner earlier explained, to uncover the radial ports 69 to allow flow of operating air to the motor. The impeller 12 is then rotated and functions to pump water from the sump.

When the sump water is lowered to a predetermined level indicated by the line L, the pressure of air acting on the diaphragm unit 101 will have relaxed sutficiently to enable the return spring 97 to return the slide member 82 and diaphragm unit 101 to normal position. In the latter action the toggle pins are snapped back to their normal condition and the pilot valve is shifted back to closed condition. Consequent upon the closing of the pilot valve over the vent 58, pressure air flowing from the inlet passage 41 through ports 78 to the interior pocket 75 of the master valve builds up in the latter to counteract the opposing air pressure acting on the master valve in the intake passage 41; whereupon this action, the master valve is returned by force of the spring 76 to closed condition. This causes flow of operating air to the motor to stop. The sump pump is then in condition to automatically restart operating when the sump water again rises from the low level L to the high level H.

The high and low levels H and L may be regulated, as earlier mentioned, by loosening the clamp 113 and raising or lowering the bottom end 120 of the hose relative to the sump water.

In lieu of the control hose 117 a passage, not shown, may be provided through the general housing 26 so as to exit from the housing at a desired point in the vicinity of the lower end of the housing.

While an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood, that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention; and it is intended, therefore, to claim the invention not only as shown and described but also in all such forms and modifications thereof as may reasonably be construed to fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Afiuid pressure operated sump pump including a pump impeller and a fluid powered motor connected drivingly to the pump impeller, a fluid passage to the motor, valve means controlling flow of pressure fluid through the passage to the motor, a common chamber,

conduit means having an open bottom end adapted to dip into the sump water and having an upper end communicating with the common chamber, a diaphragm chamber having a restricted port connection with the common chamber, a restricted passage communicating the common chamber with the fluid passage whereby pressure fluid is communicated through the common chamber both to the conduit means and to the diaphragm chamber, diaphragm means within the diaphragm chamber subject to relative displacement upon development of a back pressure over the conduit means in the diaphragm chamber to a predetermined degree, means responsive to displacement of the diaphragm means to cause movement of the valve means relative to the fluid passage, and means yieldingly resisting both the said movement of the latter means and the said displacement of the diaphragm means.

2. A fluid pressure operated sump pump as defined in claim 1, including a housing having a bottom end adapted to rest on the bottom of a sump, wherein means is provided for selectively adjusting the height position of the open bottom end of the conduitmeans relative to the bottom end of the housing.

3. A fluid pressure operated sump pump as defined in claim 2, wherein the conduit means is a hose line arranged externally of the housing. '4. A fluid pressur operated sump pump as defined in claim 2, wherein the housing includes a bottom section housing the impeller, an intermediate section housing the motor, and a top section housing the valve means, the said sections being detachably joined in end to end relation.

5. A fluid pressure operated sump pump as defined in claim 4, wherein the valve means includes a slide valve movable relative to open and closed'positions with respect to said main fluid passage.

6. A fluid pressure operated sump pump as defined in claim 5, wherein the slide valve operates in a second chamber exposed at one end to the main fluid passage and having a relief port in its opposite end, port means communicates the interior of the second chamber with the main fluid passage, and the slide valve having equal areas subject to counterbalancing pressures of air in the main passage and in the second chamber, spring means supplementing the air pressure acting on the slide valve in the second chamber pressing the slide valve to normally closed position and said means responsive to displacement of the diaphragm including a pilot valve having a normal position closing the relief port and having a shifted position opening the relief port, shifting of the pilot valve to open position serving to upset the opposing air pressures acting on the slide valve to allow the pressure of air in the air passage acting on the slide valve to overcome the opposing spring pressure and shift the slide valve to open position.

7. A fluid pressure operated sump pump as defined in claim 6, wherein a toggle means connected with the pilot valve serves to shift the pilot valve from one position to the other, the toggle means being actuable to carry the pilot valve in one direction by the displacement of the diaphragm and being actuable to return the pilot valve by means of the resisting yieldable means upon relaxing,

the back pressure against the diaphragm.

8. In a pneumatic sump pump including a vertical housing encasing an air driven water pump adapted to rest at its bottom end in a sump, and a main air passage communicating operating air to the latter; operating air control valve means automatically controlling starting and stopping of the operation of said water pump accordingly as water in the sump rises to a predetermined level and recedes to another predetermined level, the valve means including a master valve slidable in a chamber to open and closed positions relative to the main air passage, a spring constantly urging the master valve to closed condition, the valve having an area exposed to the main air passage subject to pressure of air therein tending to move the valve against the load of said spring to open position, ports in the master valve allowing pressure air tendency so that the master valve has a normally closed position under the influence of said spring, pilot valve means normally closing an air relief port provided in said chamber, a pressure chamber, means for progressively developing air pressure in said pressure chamber as the sump water rises above an initial level and for progressively relaxing said pressure as the sump water recedes toward said level, means within said pressure chamber responsive to the development of a predetermined pressure therein to automatically actuate the pilot valve to open condition relative to the relief port, and means responsive to relaxation of the pressure in said first mentioned chamber to --a predetermined degree to automatically return the pilot valve to closed condition.

9. In a sump pump including an air driven motor, a water pump powered by the motor, and a casing enclosing the motor and pump adapted to rest at its bottom end in a sump; a control unit controlling flow of operating air to the motor, the unit comprising a housing section detachably mounted to the said casing, a main operating air flow passage through the housing communicating with the motor, a pressure chamber having restricted communication with the main passage, a conduit connected at an upper end by means of a restricted passage with the main passage and having an open bottom end in the vicinity of the bottom end of the casing adapted to dip in the sump water so that back pressure of air is enabled to develop in the pressure chamber accordingly as the sump water rises and recedes relative to an initial level, a slide valve having a position normally closing said main passage relative to the motor, means responsive to a predetermined maximum pressure in said pressure chamber to cause' the slide valve to shift to open position, and other means responsive to relaxing of said pressure in said pressure chamber to a predetermined degree to cause the slide valve to return to closed position.

10. In a sump purrrp as defined in claim 9, wherein the slide valve operates in a second. chamber exposed at one end to the main passage and having a relief port in its opposite end, port means communicates the interior of the second chamber with the main passage, and the slide valve having equal areas subject to counter-balancingpressures of air in the main passage and in the second chamber, spring means supplementing the air pressure acting on the slide valve in the second chamber pressing the slide valve to normally closed position, and said pressure responsive means including a pilot valve having a normal position closing the relief port and having a shifted position opening the relief port, shifting of the pilot valve to open position serving to upset the opposing air pressures acting on the slide valve to allow the pressure of air in the air passage acting on the slide valve to overcome the opposing spring pressure and shift the slide valve to open position.

11. In a sump pump as in claim 10, wherein toggle means is provided for shifting the pilot valve from one position to the other, and said pressure responsive means includinga diaphragm for actuating the toggle means in one direction, and said other means responsive to relaxing of pressure in said pressure chamber including a return spring for actuating the toggle means in the opposite direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 346,79'2 8/1886 White 103271 970,411 9/1910 Woodall 13797 1,053,032 2/1913 Harris 103-33 1,116,481 11/1914 Pribil 103-276 6,011 7/1915 Mason 251-44 0 1/1934 Reed 103-87 2,020,956 11/1935 Norling 103-87 (Other references on following page) UNITED 9 STATES PATENTS Finley Morrison Murray Swenson Nielsen Sterner et a1 8/1961 Botkin 103-42 2/1962 Ryden 10335' 2/196'2 Brunson 10342 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1960 France.

LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED SUMP PUMP INCLUDING A PUMP IMPELLER AND A FLUID POWERED MOTOR CONNECTED DRIVINGLY TO THE PUMP IMPELLER, A FLUID PASSAGE TO THE MOTOR, VALVE MEANS CONTROLLING FLOW OF PRESSURE FLUID THROUGH THE PASSAGE TO THE MOTOR, A COMMON CHAMBER, CONDUIT MEANS HAVING AN OPEN BOTTOM END ADAPTED TO DIP INTO THE SUMP WATER AND HAVING AN UPPER END COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMMON CHAMBER, A DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER HAVING A RESTRICTED PORT CONNECTION WITH THE COMMON CHAMBER, A RESTRICTED PASSAGE COMMUNICATING THE COMMON CHAMBER WITH THE FLUID PASSAGE WHEREBY PRESSURE FLUID IS COMMUNICATED THROUGH THE COMMON CHAMBER BOTH TO THE CONDUIT MEANS AND TO THE DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER, DIAPHRAGM MEANS WITHIN THE DIAPHRAM CHAMBER SUBJECT TO RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT UPON DEVELOPMENT OF A BACK PRESSURE OVER THE CONDUIT MEANS IN THE DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER TO A PREDETERMINED DEGREE, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO DISPLACEMENT OF THE DIAPHRAGM MEANS TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE MEANS RELATIVE TO THE FLUID PASSAGE, AND MEANS YIELDINGLY RESISTING BOTH THE SAID MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER MEANS AND THE SAME DISPLACEMENT OF THE DIAPHRAGM MEANS. 